Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/768

748 the reactionists were in their fullest strength — October 1858 — the capital was assailed on the 14th by 3,000 constitutionalists from Morelia, of whose coming Zuloaga had no inkling till they arrived at the gates of Mexico. The assailants were commanded by General Blanco, who occupied the hill of Chapultepec, and attacked the Tlalpam gate, but had to retreat before the reactionary forces of Perez Gomez and Piña; the liberals being likewise dislodged from San Pedro y San Pablo and La Merced, where they had intrenched themselves with their leader, General José J. Álvarez.

The capital was the centre of agitation of all the liberals that had been expelled from the departments, and who now began to feel renewed encouragement with the recapture of Guadalajara by Santos Degollado on the 27th of October, after a siege of thirty days and a formal assault. One third of the city was left in ruins. Several executions followed for unjustifiable acts.

The defeat of Vicario in the south of Mexico, and the occupation of Pachuca by Carbajal, also occurred. In the last months of the year, the only hopes of the reactionary party were centred in Miramon's energy, recognized and admired even by his enemies, and in the supplies imported by Colonel Robles Pezuela through La Antigua, with which he at once tendered his services to General Echeagaray for the capture of Perote.